The Angry Samoans * The Swingin’ Dicks * Die Rotzz * The Guillotines

Rudyard’s presents The Angry Samoans * The Swingin’ Dicks * Die Rotzz * The Guillotines.

Angry Samoans (pictured, Van Nuys, CA)
http://www.angrysamoans.com/

Along with X, Black Flag, Fear, and the Circle Jerks, the savagely satirical Angry Samoans rode the first wave of Los Angeles punk. Formed in Van Nuys, CA, in the summer of 1978, the band was founded by singers and guitarists “Metal” Mike Saunders and Gregg Turner, a pair of erstwhile rock critics who’d previously teamed with fellow writer Richard Meltzer in the group Vom. Adding Saunders’ brother Kevin on guitar, the group considered names like the Egyptians and the Eigenvectors (a mathematical term), they settled on the Angry Samoans, and enlisted bassist Todd Homer and drummer Bill Vockeroth, and initially set out as a Dictators cover band.

Soon, Saunders and Turner began writing original material, drawing influence from the Velvet Underground, the Sonics, the 13th Floor Elevators, and garage rock. After honing their primitive and increasingly thrashy sound at a series of surreal gigs (including sets at the Camarillo State Mental Hospital and a lunchtime show at Santa Monica High School, where MC Meltzer asked if any “heroin addicts” were in the audience), the Samoans — substituting guitarist P.J. Galligan for Kevin Saunders — debuted in 1980 with the EP Inside My Brain, highlighted by “Get Off the Air,” their pointed swipe at KROQ DJ Rodney Bingenheimer and the L.A. musical community.

Two years later, they resurfaced with Back from Samoa, featuring titles like “They Saved Hitler’s Cock,” “Tuna Taco,” and “My Old Man’s a Fatso.” Soon, the bandmembers grew disenchanted with the entire punk culture, and they spent the next several years largely in a dormant state: guitarist Steve Drojensky replaced Kevin Saunders in 1984, Vockeroth went on hiatus, and Jeff Dahl temporarily stepped in for “Metal” Mike in 1985, but by and large the group laid low until 1987’s Yesterday Started Tomorrow. Problems with their label and internal differences led the Angry Samoans to disband after recording 1988’s STP Not LSD.

In 1991, “Metal” Mike issued a solo EP, Plays the Hits of the ’90s; in 1994, Turner released his own album, Santa Fe, and later fronted Gregg Turner & the Blood-Drained Cows. Homer, meanwhile, resurfaced in the neo-psychedelic outfit Mooseheart Faith Stellar Groove Band. By the mid-’90s, “Metal” Mike was also fronting a new Samoans lineup, which still included longtime mainstay Vockeroth as well as guitarists Alison Wonderslam and Mark Byrne, and bassist Adrienne Harmon. Saunders and Vockeroth have continued to anchor the Samoans as the band experienced further lineup changes in the new millennium; as of 2009, Matt “Malice” Vicknair had joined as the group’s bassist. the Angry Samoans’ infrequent performances during the 2000s (generally once a month in California, although there have also been a few brief European tours) remain a vital link to punk’s past. –  Jason Ankeny, AllMusic.com

Swingin Dicks (Dallas, TX)
https://www.facebook.com/theswingindicks

Fast and Furious punk rock since 1995. Formed out of Dallas,Tx. Current lineup includes former members of 4 Days to Burn, Archie Bunker, Blood of The Sun, The Dangits, Kentucky Mule, and Dumpster.

Name a band and we’ve played with them. We did a lot of touring in the late nineties and since the addition of Barney ,Richard, and Marc, the Swingin’ Dicks have been able to tour more frequently. With the original singer and co founder Dano, and the current lineup, we have stayed true to the original foundation but have evolved into a more ferocious, heavier sound. Still keeping it to a 23 minute high energy set. No jokes, no bullshit, just music! “The Swingin’ Dicks, the most underrated band”. “Dallas’s favorite son’s”

Die Rotzz (New Orleans, LA)
http://dierotzz.tripod.com/

Die Rotzz…I don’t know what the hell that name means, and I don’t really understand what they’re saying. This is probably the first time that I’ve given a 7? a just-ok review for this web-zine, but I reviewed it because I think some people might like it.

First of all, I bought it just because I wanted to order the Real Losers/Illegal Movers split from Big Black Hole…and it’s very expensive to order just one EP. So I also ordered the Die Rotzz 7?, which is their third release. I saw it and liked the cover a lot; it is very cool. Also the vinyl looks good, and the titles of the songs are in Spanish (it’s on a Spanish label). But the music isn’t very good. It’s nice punk stuff that bores me once I’ve heard two songs. They remind me a bit of modern punk bands like the Final Solutions, but a bit more classic. I think my problem is the singer. I don’t like his voice. Musically, they are good.

And that’s all. Try to hear some MP3s or something to check out Die Rotzz and see if you like them.—Raul Reaction June 21, 2005

The Guillotines (Houston, TX)
http://www.reverbnation.com/guillotines

“Rudyard’s will have the Turbojugend Deathpunk Slursdays show, this time featuring the metal hardcore sounds of Supergrave. For those who don’t know, Turbojugend or “Turbo Youth” is the fan club arm of matching jacket wearing Turbonegro fans. Houston has like four or five chapters, though this is the Bayou City one’s show……. The garage rock punk of the Robert Conn lead The Guillotines will also be on the bill. Conn may be best known for his work with The Pagans, but this band has just as much power with a better crafted sound……” — Free Press Houston

“I think The Guillotines has a chemistry that bands strive for. We are going to put this record out soon. It is going to be a record that you will want to play LOUD. We are going to bring some bad ass guitar rock to you all!!” — Janet Hammer, Punk Globe

“…. lead man, Conn was one of the original members of The Pagans from Cleveland, OH. Robert was also on The Plague “Just Say No” classic thrash punk album.” — Steven Blythe, AUSTIN POST